New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg leads Comptroller William Thompson, his likely
Democratic challenger, 50 - 35 percent among New York City voters, according to a Quinnipiac
University poll released today. This compares to a 47 - 37 percent lead July 28.

Of the 78 percent of voters who have seen the Mayor's TV commercials for his reelection
campaign, 47 percent say they are "annoying" and 41 percent say they are "informative."
Republicans say 52 - 38 percent the commercials are informative. Democrats say 48 - 41 percent
and independent voters say 50 - 41 percent that they're annoying.

Only 15 percent of those who have seen the ads say they make them "more likely" to vote
for Bloomberg, while 18 percent say "less likely" and 64 percent, including 66 percent of
independent voters, say the ads won't make a difference.

"Mayor Mike might be wasting his money on that zillion-dollar TV buy. Most people say
the commercials haven't changed their vote. And more of them think the stuff is annoying than
informative. The Bloomberg PR blitz is overkill, New Yorkers say 59 - 31 percent," said Maurice
Carroll, director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Even so, Mayor Bloomberg has hit 50 percent with a 15-point lead over Comptroller
William Thompson. Council member Tony Avella? He's not in it," Carroll added.

New York City voters approve 66 -28 percent of the job Bloomberg is doing, compared
to 63 - 29 percent July 28, and give him a 65 - 31 percent favorability. Voters approve 52 - 10
percent, with 38 percent undecided, of the way Thompson is handling his job as Comptroller and
give him a 38 - 10 percent favorability. But 51 percent don't know enough about him to form an
opinion. For Avella, 81 percent don't know enough about him to form an opinion.

New York City voters believe 55 - 40 percent the claim by Bloomberg in an upcoming
book that he never believed he could be elected President.

The man who was elected, President Barack Obama, wins a 76 - 19 percent approval.

Comptroller, Public Advocate Races

The Comptroller's role in New York City government is "very important" or "somewhat
important," 92 percent of voters say. The Public Advocate's role in New York City government is
"very important" or "somewhat important," 79 percent of voters say.

The Democratic primary race for New York City Comptroller is dominated by
"undecided" at 45 percent, followed by three City Council members lumped together with 17
percent for John Liu, and 16 percent each for David Yassky and Melinda Katz. Council member
David Weprin has 5 percent.

Former Public Advocate Mark Green leads the Democratic primary pack for his old
position with 38 percent, followed by City Council member Bill de Blasio at 14 percent and
Norman Siegel and Council member Eric Gioia at 8 percent each.

With a 51 - 17 percent favorability, Green is the only candidate in the Comptroller or
Public Advocate field with any name recognition. For each of the other candidates, 69 to 83
percent of New York City voters say they don't know enough about them to form an opinion.

"New Yorkers think City Comptroller and Public Advocate are important jobs. But they
don't know much about any of the candidates except Green," Carroll said.

From August 18 - 24, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,290 New York City registered
voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.7 percentage points. The survey includes 766 Democrats
with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio and
nationwide as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed - http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, or call (203) 582-5201.

1. (If registered Democrat) If the 2009 Democratic primary for Mayor were being
held today and the candidates were Tony Avella and William Thompson, for whom
would you vote?

2. (If registered Democrat) If the 2009 Democratic primary for Public Advocate
were being held today and the candidates were Mark Green, Norman Siegal, Bill de
Blasio, and Eric Gioia, for whom would you vote?

TREND: (If registered Democrat) If the 2009 Democratic primary for Public
Advocate were being held today and the candidates were Mark Green, Norman
Siegal, Bill de Blasio and Eric Gioia, for whom would you vote?

7. (If registered Democrat) If the 2009 Democratic primary for Comptroller were
being held today and the candidates were Melinda Katz, David Weprin, John Liu,
and David Yassky, for whom would you vote?

TREND: (If registered Democrat) If the 2009 Democratic primary for Comptroller
were being held today and the candidates were Melinda Katz, David Weprin, John
Liu and David Yassky, for whom would you vote?

12. If the 2009 election for Mayor were being held today, and the candidates
were William Thompson the Democrat and Michael Bloomberg running as both a
Republican and an Independent, for whom would you vote?

TREND: If the 2009 election for Mayor were being held today, and the candidates
were William Thompson the Democrat and Michael Bloomberg running as both a
Republican and an Independent, for whom would you vote? (*Michael Bloomberg the
Independent)

13. If the 2009 election for Mayor were being held today, and the candidates
were Tony Avella the Democrat and Michael Bloomberg running as both a Republican
and an Independent, for whom would you vote?

TREND: If the 2009 election for Mayor were being held today, and the candidates
were Tony Avella the Democrat and Michael Bloomberg running as both a Republican
and an Independent, for whom would you vote?(*Michael Bloomberg the Independent)